Sandra Oh starred as Dr. Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy for 10 years, and according to the actress, that decade was a stressful time for her. The ABC medical drama premiered in 2005, and Oh was an original cast member. Cristina was one of the five surgical interns in season 1, alongside Meredith Grey, George O’Malley, Izzie Stevens, and Alex Karev, placing her among the most important figures in the series. As such, Oh had a lot of work to do throughout her time on the show. It also didn’t help that Oh’s Grey’s Anatomy character was a fan favorite.
On June 15, 2025, Oh gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth College (the alma mater of Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes). She was one of the few recipients of honorary degrees from the university, alongside Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff, Olympians Judy Geer and Mikaela Shiffrin, and former MLB pitcher William Greason. In her speech, Oh addressed controversial matters such as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives. Then, she turned towards her time on the Grey’s Anatomy set. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oh said:
“As some of you know, I had the great privilege of playing Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy for 10 seasons. This opportunity brought me financial stability, fame, and privilege. It was also one of the most challenging decades of my life. I learned profound lessons during this time, because so much of it was so uncomfortable.”
Will Oh Return To Grey’s Anatomy?
Even though Oh is undoubtedly grateful for the ABC medical drama, it’s clear working on the show was difficult for her. Oh left Grey’s Anatomy in season 10 to pursue other opportunities, and she has since been hesitant to jump on board the notion of reprising her role in the future. The actress has still left the door open for her return. However, given Oh’s past comments and her Dartmouth commencement speech, it seems unlikely that Cristina will come back to Grey’s Anatomy in any significant capacity.
Elsewhere in Oh’s speech, she revealed that she constantly fought for changes to the scripts of Grey’s Anatomy episodes. She wanted to ensure that Cristina’s words and actions fit her character. So, the writers’ room appointed a “Sandra whisperer” to “deal with” her pleas. But, as Oh said, “That doesn’t happen anymore. I am my own whisperer.” All the lessons Oh learned while working on Grey’s Anatomy and other sets have given her the tools she needs to navigate her career, and perhaps she can use them to negotiate a return, no matter how long, to the show.
Our Take On The Grey’s Anatomy Star’s Speech
Throughout her commencement speech, Oh was honest about her acting career and what she had learned from Grey’s Anatomy. If anything, her candid comments made us want Cristina back even more. Oh certainly channeled Cristina multiple times during her speech as she spoke very honestly about her time on the Grey’s Anatomy set. However, the actress sounded most like her iconic character at the end of her address. Oh said, “When the world gets hard, or when it’s good — especially when it’s good, like today — by yourself, with people you love, with strangers, always take the time to dance it out!”
